Drowning the Shamrock? The Gaelic League and the War on Pubs
About this episode
This episode explores the history of Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland and the Gaelic League's efforts to promote a sober celebration.
In 1903, Saint Patrick's Day formally became a national holiday in Ireland, following a push from the Gaelic League. In the pages of their newspaper, An Claidheamh Soluis, a battle was waged for the closure of public houses on the day. Some publicans stood in opposition to this. This is the story of how a sober St Patrick's Day was achieved, and how it would take until the 1960s for change.
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